Spiny desert dwellers spring to life with colorful blooms

You might say I backed into my relationship with cactus. As a
clueless kid, my inattention was a painful introduction to the
prickly plants of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. A Jumping Cholla
soon had my full attention when it became firmly lodged in my
posterior. Despite the discomfort, the indignity of asking friends
to remove the spines was even worse.

It was this pointed experience that taught me to respect cactus,
but years of hiking the arid hills and plains of Anza-Borrego have
taught me to appreciate the variety and beauty of these spiny
desert dwellers.

Like the great Redwoods that blanket the mountains of Northern
California, various cactus species fill a similar biological niche
in the arid lands of the desert southwest. Despite their formidable
appearance, the prickly cactus spines are penetrated by birds,
rodents and larger animals seeking shelter, nesting locations and
food.

Each year, visitors from around the world come to Californiaís
Anza-Borrego to enjoy the unique beauty of the cactus plants
growing here. All but one species of cacti are native to North
America.

In addition to their dangerous beauty, cacti were also used as
sources of food, medicine and tools by early inhabitants. They are
amazing plants that have adapted and thrived in one of the harshest
environments in the world. They can grow in rocky soil that may not
see rainfall for months at a time, then bloom in late spring or
early summer with delicate flowers of intense beauty. In a land
where everything you encounter either scratches, pokes, claws or
bites, itís hard to imagine the beauty of a cactus bloom. The
barrel cactus in particular seems to bloom in regal elegance, with
large, showy yellow-green flowers ringed like a crown on the head
of the stout plant.

The smaller Beavertail Cactus, so named because of its flat,
segmented pads, is often tucked into rocky corners, but announces
itself loudly each spring with brilliant blossoms of a vibrant
magenta color. Various other species greet the desert visitor with
blooms ranging from nearly white to flaming red. While most cactus
blossoms are large and showy, they are also intricate and delicate
flowers, contrasting sharply with the rugged coat of menacing
spines that armor their host.

There is also myth and misinformation about cactus. Countless
western movies have found a stranded traveler cutting into a juicy
barrel cactus and drinking the life saving water stored inside.
While the pulpy flesh of the barrel cactus is wet, the water is far
too alkaline to drink and would actually worsen dehydration. There
are accounts of severe diarrhea and stomach cramps resulting from
drinking the juice of the barrel cactus.

The native Indians made good use of the various cactus species
found in Anza-Borrego, using the larger spines for sewing needles,
and nearly all of some plants for food or medicinal purposes.

The stubby barrel cactus that grows in clusters all over
Anza-Borrego provided a source of food for the native inhabitants.
All parts of the plants reproductive cycle, including buds,
flowers, fruit and seeds were an important source of food over a
period of several months each year. The buds and flowers were
gathered in the spring and boiled to remove bitterness. After
cooking, the greens were eaten immediately or dried for later
use.

The fruit was plucked from the summer plant with two sticks to
avoid the unfriendly spines and then it was boiled and eaten. Seeds
were collected later in the season and ground into a fine meal,
mixed with water to make a primitive porridge, or stored in dry
containers for later use.

Many cactus species were used for medicinal purposes, including
dressings for open wounds, pain relief for burns, laxatives, upset
stomach, increasing milk production in lactating mothers and even
mosquito repellent. The fermented juice of some cactus fruit also
makes a potent alcoholic drink.

The large, cylindrical shape of the Barrel Cactus also made it
useful for storage. The top was cut off and the inside dug out,
creating a stationary storage container, complete with lid.

Beavertail Cactus was an even more important food source for
early residents of the desert. All of the plant was edible, and the
absence of large spines made it far more user friendly. The pads
were gathered and then rubbed in sand to remove the tiny hair like
spines, then boiled and eaten as greens or mixed with other foods
for a nourishing meal. In summer, the Beavertail produces a very
sweet fruit that was roasted in an earthen pit before eating. The
tiny spines of the cactus were rubbed into moles or warts in a
belief that they would disappear with such treatment.

There are at least 20 common species of cactus in Anza-Borrego,
including several kinds of Cholla and Prickly Pear. Some, like the
Jumping Cholla, cover vast areas like the cactus gardens around Dos
Cabezas in the southern corner of the park.

Jumping Cholla seems to ìjumpî at you when you get close,
quickly attaching itself to your shoe, leg, arm or any body part
close enough. The tiny spines have barbs at the end that make them
painful and difficult to remove. In reality, the Cholla does not
jump, but the delicate ends of the spines are transparent and
nearly invisible, making you unaware you are so close. It is these
same tiny spines that make the plant appear soft and fuzzy from a
distance, which has earned them the additional name of ìTeddy Bear
Cholla.î

The tiny Fishhook Cactus, with spines that hook at the end,
tends to grow alone in sheltered places, producing miniature little
trumpet-shaped blossoms. The fierce Hedgehog Cactus seems poised in
defensive position with formidable spines that clearly suggest
avoidance, and Pencil Cholla can decorate slopes and washes with
bright blossoms at the tips of the thin branches.

Whether you are gazing over a forest of Cholla or on
hands-and-knees appreciating the delicate beauty of a Fishhook
Cactus, or perhaps watching busy beetles feed on pollen in the
colorful red blossoms of Cane Cholla, Anza-Borrego offers visitors
a living collection of these fascinating desert plants. Abundant
spring rains have produced a good crop of cactus blooms this year
and desert visitors will be rewarded with a variety of colored
flowers in the next few weeks.